Reports suggest that Manchester United flop Alexander Buttner hasn’t started for Vitesse Arnhem in 2018 because he’s carrying too much weight.

The defender was Sir Alex Ferguson’s parting gift at Old Trafford but he failed to ever make an real impact.

Buttner was billed as Patrice Evra’s long term replacement when Ferguson beat Southampton to his signature to lure him from Vitesse Arnhem.

But after just 13 appearances for United in his debut season and a further 15 under David Moyes the next, he was dumped to Dynamo Moscow for £4.4million as Louis van Gaal cleared out the dead weight upon his arrival

Just 28 appearances, and a loan at Anderlecht, in two and a half years in Russia saw him return right back to where he started in Holland last summer.

Youssuf Mulumbu battles with Alexander Buttner

Well things aren’t exactly going swimmingly for Buttner back in his homeland, report The Mirror.

Cast you mind back to his stint at Old Trafford. The former Holland under 20 ace’s legacy at Carrington was the disappearance of chips on the menu at United’s training centre.

Moyes then banned chips from the menu after walking past Buttner tucking into a plateful of the high fat snack.

Fast forward to 2018, and Buttner still appears to be a massive fan of unhealthy food.

After missing January with a hamstring injury and then a one-game suspension, De Telegraaf has reported that Buttner has not featured for the Eredivise top flight side for the past two months as his body fat is unacceptably high.

De Gelderlander added that the club are looking to sell their asset because his fat percentage is more than the 10 to 12 per cent allowed.

He came on as a substitute at the weekend, though.

Bale chase

Manchester United are reportedly ready to cash in on Anthony Martial this summer as they look to raise funds to sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.

United boss Jose Mourinho has decided to sell Martial, 22, at the end of the season according to the Mirror.

Martial joined United for £36million, rising with potential add-ons to £58miillion on transfer deadline day 2015.

The Old Trafford club will aim to recoup most of that fee and use the cash to bankroll a move for long-standing target Bale, the report claims.

Juventus are said to be leading the chase for Martial who has made 41 appearances under Mourinho this term.

United have made enquries for Bale in each of the last three summers, it is claimed, with their approaches having been turned down by Real.

But the Wales international could now be available for around £80million with Real's stance having changed.

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More Manchester United news

Paul Pogba insists there is no problem between him and manager Jose Mourinho - and that he is not thinking about leaving Manchester United.

Speculation over Pogba's United future emerged after reports of a feud between him and his Portuguese boss, reports the Manchester Evening News.

That followed Pogba's dip in form which saw dropped to the bench for games against Sevilla in the Champions League and Brighton in the FA Cup.

The midfielder also looked unhappy when he was brought off during the defeat to Newcastle which led to further claims his time at Old Trafford could be coming to an end.

But the 25-year-old has told Telefoot he has no issue with Mourinho.

“It's true [being benched] has never happened to me, but it can strengthen me," he said. "You have to go through these periods to make you stronger.

“There is no problem with Mourinho. It's not me who picks the team. Ask the coach if you want to know why I play less. I respect his choices.”

Reports the France international could depart in summer just two years after his world-record arrival have intensified in recent weeks.

And he added fuel to the fire by saying he wants to play alongside Brazilian forward Neymar at some stage in his career.

Despite his comments about the Paris Saint-Germain star he insisted that didn't mean he was looking to move on from Old Trafford any time soon.

“Neymar? I said I dream of playing with him, [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano [Ronaldo], but that doesn't mean that I want to move clubs," he said.

“It's too early to talk about a departure from United, the situation can change.”

Old Trafford legend Bryan Robson says Pogba can flourish - if he pays more attention to his job and less to his social media profile.

"He's on there (social media) a lot and he's laughing and joking," the 61-year-old told Off the Ball’s Football Show.

"He likes to be in that limelight, coming across that he's a laid back character and he's jovial and he wants a bit of banter with the fans.

"For me though, it's a little bit too much. You need to win. It's not a game, so that's where somebody like myself, Roy Keane and Graeme Souness, those sorts of people, a Gary Neville when he's commentating, we understood that.

“This isn't a game, this is our living and we need to win and I think Paul’s got to get that a bit more into his character. This is a job."

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Shaw confronts Mourinho

Luke Shaw is said to have confronted Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho in the dressing room when he was told he would be coming off against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Shaw was withdrawn at half-time during United's 2-0 FA Cup sixth round victory over the Seagulls in March.

Mourinho had been unimpressed with the left-back's display in the opening 45 minutes and criticised him publicly after the match.

Ashley Young was brought on in Shaw's place and the former Southampton left-back reprtedly retaliated with a comment when he was informed he was being replaced.

According to the Daily Mail, Mourinho also raised his voice at Shaw, and the argument could be heard by stadium staff outside the changing room.

The former Southampton left-back, who cost United £27million in 2014, then allegedly asked his boss: "Why are you always picking on me?"

Shaw and Mourinho have endured a turbulent relationship since Mourinho became United's manager in 2016.

After the win against Brighton, Mourinho said that he chose to substitute Shaw rather than Antonio Valencia because "at least Antonio defensively was capable of good positioning".

"Luke, in the first half, every time they came in his corridor, the cross came in and a dangerous situation was coming," the Portuguese said.